Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has successfully concluded a two-day promotional mission to Saudi Arabia as part of its on-going efforts to develop new markets and increase the number of visitors and spend from the region to Sri Lanka.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, yesterday, said that the SLFP MPS, including six ministers, who voted for the no-faith motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week, would cross over to the Opposition when Parliament met again.

The SLFP Central Committee met at President’s official residence in Colombo last night and all SLFP ministers decided to boycott today’s Cabinet meeting.

Sri Lanka’s health service is one of the best not only in Asia but in the world, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran said yesterday Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran would not be given the chief ministerial candidacy again.

Sri Lanka and China in the past five years have made significant progress in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative in the island country through which the country’s economy has greatly benefited, said Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka.

Seven persons from Homagama who went to Knuckles Range reported missing. Search operation under way, Police said.

A price revision of fuel distributed by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is in the offing, according to highly placed government sources.

The National Aluth Sahal Mangalya which is known to be most venerated agricultural ritual of Sinhalese was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the historical Jaya SrI Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura yesterday morning (08).

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had met for a discussion Saturday night, had agreed on a Cabinet reshuffle within the next four days, Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

SriLankan Airlines lost certification to operate its new A320neo and A321neo aircraft for more than an hour outside the range of airports suitable for emergency landings after its Maintenance Department released one of the planes (registration 4R-ANE) for use despite having detected debris in the oil monitoring system of an engine.

Majority in UNP Group and Working Committee have decided there is no need for a change in party leadership at this moment says Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.

President Maithripala Sirisena has warned that the UNP MPs move to press no confidence motions against select SLFPers could push the coalition partner towards the Joint Opposition members.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the UNP MPs to withdraw the no-confidence motion against the SLFP Ministers who voted in favour of the NCM against him, Department of Information Director General Sudharshana Gunawardana said today.

The No-Confidence Motions signed by 20 UNP MPs against 6 SLFP Ministers and Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala who voted for NCM on PM handed over to the Speaker.